the case of the bookcase

topic number six: bookcases, in the eye of the beholder

With each move our family has made over the years, there comes a moment in time when our bookcase is ready to be set up. This is the time when my husband heads off to the office immediately and my daughter takes a trip...abroad. No, not because they do not want to help. It is because they know better. Bookcase organization in our house is a very critical period of time. My approach to this project is similar to that of an artist with a large blank canvas: passion, vision and a plan. Some artists require silence and space to work...can you guess who?

Over the years, studying and working with cases, I find that bookcase balance (aka composition) is always at issue. Larger books should be positioned on the lower shelves, smaller books above just as a landscape artist would paint wooded hillsides below blue skies, not above. If this concept makes no sense to you, honey, you may want to sit this one out.

I usually separate books by size first and then group them by theme. You will drive yourself crazy trying to alphabetize everything perfectly first. Trust me. Start with themes--gardening, travel, fiction, non-fiction, kite-flying, etc. Once you have themes grouped, you may then lightly organize alphabetically.

After groups of books are allotted to the various shelves, work one shelf at a time. A painting within a painting if you will. With each predetermined group, balance the shelf according to size and color. Here one must think out of the box and be willing to sacrifice a bright orange dust jacket or two for the overall good. But then again, that Matisse red jacket may be the needed missing link!

Restoration Hardware catalogues depicting case books covered with identical antique white jackets are so appealing. And, although many think I have a form over function kind of spirit, I too, have my limits. Especially, when it comes to my collection of art books. I like to see them and know exactly where they are.

Anyway, once each shelf is completed, step back and make a few adjustments where needed. I suggest "tweaking" a few shelves with the addition of a small group of thoughtfully selected objects. By checking visual balance from top to bottom and side to side, finding rhythms or sequences in book colors and/or top lines, placement becomes easier to determine. Think of the objects as accents, adding not distracting from what you have already created.

So, is your bookcase a bit off or uncomfortable to look at? Just let the artist within you reach out with books as palette paint and the case as canvas!

"mad props"

My mother's bookshelves are truly a work of art--museum worthy--so much so that I often feel bad amending them. Every time I get a new book, I kind of dread finding it a place on the shelf because it would be changing a Perri Original. Subsequently, books end up collecting on my bedside table along with a growing fear of what to do once the stack gets too high (three ends up being the limit at which my mother asks me to clean my room).

Currently, I am struggling to order my bookshelves at college. This year, I have copious shelving space which is unusual for a lowly sophomore. My bookshelves are vibrant and colorful, maybe a little too visually stimulating, but in my defense I have more to deal with than books. Some items include a stereo, oddly sized dishes, Oreos, an egg timer, three Frisbees, a stapler, and other various school supplies. This is a functional bookshelf, with granola bars in an arm's reach while the dictionary hangs out quietly on the top shelf.

I love it when my mother organizes my bookshelves, or anything really. I do admit sometimes we clash over functionality vs. aesthetic value. After a few days or so my tidiness tends to wane; hence, practicality is a priority when it comes to long term organization. As silly as it sounds, as I get older, I am awed by my growing appreciation for lack of clutter which once was a comfort (I kept EVERYTHING). Because of this character trait, I give my mom "Mad Props," as my generation would say, in that she always makes sense out of the messes I make.

where art thou gucci?

topic number five: shoes, a personal love story

I make no apologies for my love of shoes; from a gorgeous gucci sandal, lovely louboutin or classy chanel to a sexy ali rahimi, I find them all divine. This is lust you say, not love? Either way, heel to toe, there is deep affection.

I pamper my shoes by housing each pair individually in my closet. Shoes are organized by style and then by color. A friend of mine has taken this a step further by attaching a photograph on the front of each box for easy viewing. Somehow this seems a little too impersonal for me, like putting a name tag on your loved one's lapel. But then again, not everyone is as in love with their shoes as I am. Instead I use perfectly sized clear boxes from the Container Store. And periodically, I make an effort to rotate shoes out of my closet for cleaning and repair.

But having an organized closet where you can find everything because you can see everything can have a down side...my husband sees everything too! Thus, came my promise to Gary-to donate an existing pair of shoes aka: physically remove a pair of shoes from my wardrobe (and sometimes this hurts) whenever another shoe purchase is made aka: a new love appears.

This culling if you will, not only helps keep my closet updated, it keeps it in shape. The shoe promise along with my dear friend Paula motivated me to do the same with my clothes:t-shirts, blouses, socks and lingerie. "How many white shirts does one really need?" Thank you Paula! What this accomplishes is amazing. Surprisingly, especially for me, is that I now never really have to take time to reorganize my closet unless I want to, but not because I need to.

Watching and/or helping friends yank out their entire wardrobe every spring- clothes piled high with belts, bags and boxes everywhere is time consuming. It can take a day just to try on each and every piece of owned clothing prior to sorting. Try making the promise instead. This requires less time, it is easy with practice, and actually, over time it could even save you some money. Yes, loving and dumping, at the same time. Heartless, but helpful.

feng shoes

My mother is an authority on many things, but you should really listen to her when it comes to shoes. Why? Experience by pure volume. There was once a time when my mother had over one hundred pairs of shoes. She's not a compulsive shoe buyer; she's a size five. So when the woman comes across a decent pair that actually fits, she buys them and keeps them forever. I don't blame her.


It is kind of shocking that I'm not crazy about shoes. I'm the progeny of not one, but two people who have interesting shoe backgrounds. Way before my time, my father sold shoes and was pretty great at it. I go to him just as much as my mother with some of my shoes needs, though his are more along the lines of "Krazy glue? The heel is falling off," or "Help! These boots are stuck!" (They were so tight, we nearly had to cut them off.) Now that I'm not growing so much any more, shoes have become more appealing, but clumsy as I am, I don't know how comfortable I am scuffing up anything over fifty dollars.


When it comes to organization of shoes, I always yield to my mother. Again, clumsy as I am, the last thing I need is to be tripping over the articles supposed to be keeping my feet safe. This being said, I am superstitious to a fault, and there is one shoe storage rule I follow unfailingly: your shoes should be pointing out, towards the closet door or out of the room. That way you are always poised to be going places.

pillow talk

topic number four: protocol for pillow prosperity

Pillows--specifically for one's bed--are relatively easy to understand when it comes to form and function. So one may argue that my "preferences" are only to help pillows so that they may fulfill their purpose. This is to provide a place to rest one's head. And in case you haven't already surmised, resting my particular head can be a bit challenging at times.

To start, a hypoallergenic zippered sleeve to seal the pillow is required. This is a must not just for the pillow with head privileges, but for all the pillows sharing nearby space, shams or no shams. I have never understood why anyone would encase their mattress and box spring, but leave their pillow or pillows vulnerable. Think about it...a real head scratcher!

Soft or hard, pillow preference is personal. For those of us who appreciate options, why not have both? I keep a set of each on my own bed as well as on the guest bed for visitors. I do not believe I have ever encountered a bed with too many pillows, but unfortunately on occasion, found too few.

When placing the ironed case (or two) over the sealed pillow, do so with the case opening resting on the same side as seal zipper. This leaves the other side of the pillow completely smooth; an important element of a good night's sleep. Better yet, not waking up in the morning with wrinkles and zipper imprints across your forehead is most helpful to one's well being. Just a suggestion.

Ever important is scent. Although all are white, I NEVER wash my pillow cases with my husband's t-shirts or our kitchen sponges. It matters not whether the washing machine water is hot or cold, the detergent is hypoallergenic, unscented or mountain fresh. No excuses.

Regarding scent, years ago my friend Jen introduced me to Bath Junkie's custom scented "domain spray". I use it religiously on all my linens and is by far the best I have found. Find yourself counting stinking sheep? Try a hint of lavender on your pillow instead.

invasion of the throw pillows

After their first month of college, students look forward to "little touches of home" arriving with mom or dad on Parents' Weekend. For some, it's delicious homemade baked goods, like the ones my roommate received. For others, it's more clothes, like those my friend acquired after underestimating the weather. For me, it was throw pillows. 

That's right. Throw pillows.

My mother fluffed up the four large, white pillows, arranged them, and then looked at my bed with discontent. Something was missing. Later, more beddings had materialized including a white fleece, a blue afghan, and a furry white throw to match the pillows. God only knows where my mother found these additional items; my college town is only three blocks long. But in true Perri-form, my mother convened with the spirits and found appropriate bedding.

I wasn't ungrateful, but I didn't really get it at first. Throw pillows? At school, I barely had enough energy to pull back the sheets when I got in at night. With additional hazards like books, coats, and the occasional person ("oops! wrong bunk. No, wait, wrong ROOM! Sorry, dude") it was a miracle I slept at all. 

But I'm starting to understand slowly, especially after the latest in the throw pillow saga. On another bedding outing at IKEA this summer, my mother was pressuring me to buy more pillows. I may or may not have given her sass about it as we were on a specific quest for a comforter (my old one was too . . . blue). Then she showed me a picture of a pillow adorned with a ladybug, which was my childhood nickname. And then I got it. A little touch of my mother, and a little touch of home.

what is all the ruffle about?

topic number three: mattress magnetism

I love a great night's sleep, don't you? Having it means there is a better chance of waking up in the morning truly ready for a new day. It is my ongoing fondness for my bed and all its attributes that speak to me night after night. Short of saying just how much so, I only wish that all beds could exude such magnetism.

Before pulling out those special sleep accouterments whatever they may be--cozy pajamas,a satin eye-cover, teddy bear or a hot toddy or two,(my daughter is reading this)--a good bed is important. However, mattress shopping? Not fun. No, for me, bouncing from one extra firm to the next does not accomplish much. In fact, I put it right up there with shopping for...sponges. Lucky for me, with one telephone call to the Four Seasons Hotel concierge, all mattress searching and shopping was eliminated with a brand new Four Seasons bed delivered directly to our home.

Please know that the "under pinnings" of a bed if you will, are just as important as the quality of the mattress itself. Sealing both the mattress and the box spring with hypoallergenic zippered fabric sleeves is a must. Not only does this lay the foundation for everything to follow, it protects against, deep breath here, dust mites. I chose not to go with plastic sleeves, as the thought of plastic on my bed, well, was disturbing. I don't know if it was my knowledge of the way plastic feels or how it smells that did it. Mind you, direct contact was not at issue. Still, it was too close for comfort. And after all, shouldn't a great sleep experience prevent one from tossing and turning?

A good night's sleep also has to do with knowing, really knowing that your bed skirt isn't slipping right before your own eyes...closed or not. Fighting with dust ruffles, pleated bed skirts, the sizing issues that follow and the costly gadgets claiming to keep everything in place can lead to sheer mayhem. So I now use, simply, extra large safety pins. With a perfectly positioned skirt laid out on the box spring, I space the safety pins (about four to five per side) parallel and two inches in from the outer edge of the bed before the mattress is placed on top. Freshening the bed skirt and removing all wrinkles can be done with a steam iron once the skirt is attached to the bed. This eliminates pre-ironing which is entirely a big waste of time. What was I thinking?!

But lastly (I have already confessed to a few family members and friends), I triple sheet my bed. Yes, three fitted sheets instead of one. For those who need a rationale besides pure comfort, think of it as tripling your thread count!

Exhausted? Well, that is why I will save pillow talk for our next blog. Until then, sleep well.

p.s.-for more on ordering a Four Seasons bed, please see link under the "Your Search is Over" sidebar.

breaking nails making beds

Have you ever broken a nail making a bed? You're probably thinking, "What is this girl talking about? Bedding is soft as a rule. Not possible." Well, in my world, not only is it is very possible, but breaking a nail is a lurking danger. And I'm not talking about that nonsense when the prissy teenage girl chips her manicure, either. I'm talking about bloody, ripped down quick nail-breaking. Not fun.

A word of warning: My mother's trick to pin the dust ruffle in place works wonders. Really, it makes bed making much more worthwhile. However, snagging your finger on a safety pin can lead to breakage and a world of pain. So if you undertake this endeavor, proceed with caution. That means slowing down and being more thoughtful. Yet, with or without pins, I think Perri would agree that a bed should be made calmly, carefully, and considerately in the first place.

screws and sockets and switches...oh my.

topic number two: the "s" word

After reading this next topic, you will, I am most sure, understand the depth of my affliction...so hold onto your Phillips and flat heads!

I guess my awareness of sockets and switches started years ago after buying our first of many "fixer-upper" houses that we wanted to call home. Well before possession of the keys, I began looking for commonalities from room to room in the house...the flooring, the paint, lighting...sockets and switches. Anyway, it was important to me that the feeling in each room flowed smoothly from one room to the next. But after new flooring and after new paint...something was still amiss.

Ah...the lighting.

We hired an electrician who was busy for several weeks with my checklist-converting over simple switches to dimmers, replacing electrical sockets with flats plates where locations were odd, changing out old beige covers for crisp clean white ones and bringing power to my picture lights.

Still, something was amiss.

I slowly walked from room to room and something kept catching my eye, something was just not right. It became very apparent that the screws on the switch plates and as well, on the electrical sockets were not working together in unison. It was like looking at a room full of crooked paintings! Some switches had screws pointing horizontally while others pointed vertically or visa versa. For me, the installation seemed haphazard, incomplete with screws sitting at odd angles...so uncomfortably so. There is only one word-chaotic, which describes multiple screws in multiple directions occurring all on the same plate!

Now at this point, I believe some of you may be yawning. So, I dare you to stand up and walk into the next room of your home or apartment without noticing what I am talking about. Angled screws are viral! Trust me, with screwdriver in hand, every room could be better screwed and imagine afterward, sitting down, relaxed with a cup of coffee in hand and a big smile on your face! Trust me...

p.s. I prefer a vertical screw, what about you?

vertical vs. horizontal screws

Perri says that she likes vertical screws (I'm going to let that one slide, mother...) but it actually wasn't always that way. Here are two slices of life revealing the development of my mother's screw-fliction:

1. screwing the electrician

The electrician my mom hired was her favorite of all time and I always wondered why. So I asked her, was it because he changed all the beige switch plates: (imagine, southern drawl, raised eyebrows) But ma'am, these here are perfectly functional...? Was it because he, in the valiant pursuit of my mother's "checklist" was not only electrocuted but lived to finish the house? No, no. Something much greater. After he met my mother, he was so changed that he went home and standardized the direction of all his screws. In the end, they became great pals and my mom referred him a lot of business. From that day on, Mike would hang the chandelier, replace the knob-and-tube, and then offer his screw-job for free.

2. screwing the neighbor

After my mother told our old neighbor about her screw revelation, he enthusiastically proposed an important modification. David objected to vertical screws because the name on the screw would not be readable left-to-right. My mother went along with this for a while, changing all the screws horizontally, but she eventually changed them all back. This sparked debate and rivalry between her and David. It all culminated when we received the following voice-mail message:

Uh, hi Perri (giggle giggle). I did something bad. I changed a screw in your house. Just one. Enjoy finding it!

So what is the moral of this story? Grown men do giggle, and if you really want to screw with my mother, just change one in her house.

wednesday update!

Hello, all!

Thank you so much for your following and support. We want to keep you in the loop about upcoming plans. Please check back this Sunday when we will be delving into the magical world of screws and sockets and switches (oh my!). I promise good times with this one. 

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Go forth and organize.

Best,

Lindsay (a.k.a. Perri's Daughter)